Checking in...

It's been a long time, folks. I thought I'd check in and let my loyal followers (both of them) know that I'm still alive and kicking. It's always sad to read someone's blog that just trails away into nothing, so I'll try and make this as upbeat as possible. Just to get it out the way, Real Life is going fine and I'm ticking along nicely. Even managing to get a bit of wargaming in now and again!

In the last few months, the big news is that me and Kieran have started doing Flames of War! (Cheers from the wings) I've been reading a lot about the First World War recently and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to start yet another fresh project. I've meticulously researched C Coy, 18th (Service) Bn Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Pioneers) and am trying to recreate exactly the company as it fought a valiant rearguard action against German stormtroopers in May 1918, on the Lys river bridgehead.

I think it's fair to say my horizons have broadened a fair bit, and although I still cherish my beloved Palladians, I've pretty much stopped collecting 40K and only play small games with a circle of close pals. Historicals, in various scales, are now my focus, and I'm enjoying the 'stand' based 15mm gaming that FoW brings, in contrast to my entirely 28mm upbringing. And here's a photo of a StuG my brother got me for my birthday:

Another project which is taking up more and more (and more) time deserves a mention here, even if it isn't strictly model wargaming. They're called 'U-Boat Days'. We dress up in submarine-type costumes, play '30s music on a real gramophone of Kieran's, eat authentic wartime U-Boat food, and scurry down to Ollie's basement for about 12 hours and play Silent Hunter III. They really are immersive experiences, utterly exhausting but brilliant fun. Here's yours truly stalking a coastal freighter.

Well, I hope that's been vaguely interesting. I have to confess I haven't really been keeping up with people's blogs so over the next few weeks, I'll try and pay everyone a visit. Appreciate all the continued contact with you chaps in the blogosphere by email/text/phone, and I'll try and be a bit better behaved with keeping this up to date.

Glad to hear things are going well mate. :) Is lovely that you found time to post.

WWI FoW does indeed look pretty, though I've invested to heavily in WW2, that I'll be passing on it. Your tommies look great though! Did you get the boxed set with big guns and tanks as well?

That type of immersive gaming is where it's at and I miss my hours of rampaging across Europe at the head of my Roman Legions in a LAN party with barbarian hordes playing friends, all the while sporting my shiny Centurion's helmet and swearing in latin (albeit poorly spoken).

Hope you can find time to keep us informed on your further Flames of War exploits!

Good to be back mate. I didn't go for the big tank set, as I thought that would devolve into a tank battle with an infantry sideshow, rather than the infantry on which I wanted to focus. We're saving further cash by making all the arty off-table.

Ah, the glorious LAN day, me and Kieran were thinking along those exact same lines...

Welcome back Scipio. My blogging record has been pretty poor too, so I’m totally in the same boat. Speaking of which, OMG, ‘U-Boat Days’ sounds like one of the coolest things I have ever heard!And hang on; I didn’t know FoW did WW1 as well! Your attention to detail with the company is really impressive. The models look fantastic too. I know deep down inside that one day I will move to historical gaming. It is going to happen eventually I’m just not sure when or whether it will be FoW or something else.

Well Ackland I have the FoW rules so we should definitely try and get a game in at some point - there has been enough buzz around the last year or so to have peaked my interest (pre kid at least) and I too feel the days of 28mm being the main thing in my house are numbered.

Cheers chaps - yes, it's difficult to keep the pace up constantly. The WW1 range is pretty new, but I imagine it will expand a bit. Probably less than WW2, since there are probably fewer unit types around. It would be nice to see French/Russians/Austro-Hungarians etc.

Welcome back to the fold Ed, even if it is just passing through. I can't tell you how chuffed I was to see Kieran and now yourself pop back up in my feed. It was you chaps and your shenanigans who kept me coming back in, and ultimately that nudged me into seeking out others of like mind resulting in my catch-ups with Col. Ackland.

Thrilled to hear you are still going well, even if your 40K exposure is winding back.

I'm loving the red lighting in the bunker - environmental scene setting is everything if you want to go for immersion like that.

Thanks mate, yes I'll try and be good and pop back once a month where possible. That's very inspiring to know, and of course all that lovely painting on your blog is partly what inspires me to keep going and pushing the boundries of my own stuff. Really high-quality work!

Ah yes, the red light! We switch it on when the game time reaches 1700 for the full immersive experience as well. It's very disorienting when you finally climb out the slightly smelly, very damp bunker and try to work out what the real world time is.

I'm super-impressed with your amazing attention to detail, but yes, Flames is a very pleasant game to play. It has a very...'playable' mechanic. Honestly though, that StuG is where it's at - I reckon it's a wee bit better for WW2...